Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

Pageboy by Elliot Page

254 reviews

whisper88's review against another edition

dark sad slow-paced

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

angrangy's review against another edition

inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

3.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Lesbophobia, Outing, and Dysphoria

imscrem's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

2.5

I appreciate that Elliot Page took the time to write down his story. I listened to the audiobook, and found it difficult at times to understand what time period in his life he was writing from due to the somewhat jumpy narrative.  I didn’t enjoy hearing about his sexual escapades or the many, many times he was sexually abused, but I have to acknowledge that these are true parts of his story and the book would not have been complete without them. It was uncomfortable to hear about who licked what while I rode the subway. Overall, I this book definitely wasn’t what I expected — I thought it would be a more uplifting take on the trans experience, but came out thinking it’s more of a dismal array of all the ways that people can be horrific to someone for being different. I wish the world was kinder. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Pedophilia, Rape, Self harm, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Blood, Stalking, Lesbophobia, Outing, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Dysphoria, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Deadnaming, Death, Physical abuse, Medical content, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Minor: Vomit, Car accident, and Pandemic/Epidemic

jess_always_reading's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Homophobia, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Sexual harassment

mons278's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective

3.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Deadnaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Transphobia, Outing, and Gaslighting

erikaraz's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

Moving memoir by Elliot Page. Really connected with the experience of growing up in a small Canadian town as a queer person. I really appreciate him sharing his story 💗

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Homophobia, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, and Dysphoria

padancer's review against another edition

slow-paced

2.5

More like a short stories book, not a memoir. Compared to others which were published near this time period, much much worse. I couldnt get a grip since it was not in chronological order. For me too shallow and not very detailed, so I couldn’t sympathize with Elliot

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Self harm

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Suicidal thoughts, and Transphobia

seulgireads's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

3.0

Elliot Page didn't use a ghostwriter for his memoir and his writing is decent enough. Yes, on the one hand the tendency toward fragments, unnecessarily detailed descriptions and laboured metaphors was a bit tiresome. On the other, Page's sincere voice is genuinely touching at times.

I didn't read this as a fan, I was interested in this as a memoir by a famous trans man. And while the topic of being trans was obviously present throughout, the book really chronicles an emotional journey from self-denial to self-acceptance and -assertion, not only with regards to queerness and transness but also in relationships of all kinds. The narrative's foregoing of a chronological sequence of events aids in highlighting Page's internal development.

As I should have expected, this book deepened my loathing for all the worst things about of Hollywood (anyone who liked I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy will appreciate this aspect of Pageboy). What I did not expect was Page's recounting of the Halifax Explosion, which, alongside some other digressions into the historical backdrops of the narrative, was my favourite part of the book. I don't see myself ever re-reading this, but it did make me want to pick up more autobiographical works by trans authors.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Transphobia, and Dysphoria

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

maryellen's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Deadnaming, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Homophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Transphobia, Medical content, Lesbophobia, Dysphoria, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Emotional abuse, Infidelity, and Alcohol

sommer22's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

I think Page does well to preface that his trans story isn't necessarily remarkable but that he still hopes it touches people in some way. I'd call that an apt review for this book. 

The first half of this book reads as a typical actor's memoir: their beginnings in the industry, their rise to fame, etc. I greatly enjoyed the second half when Page is coming to terms with his identity, first as a lesbian and then as a trans man. Even if his story is one of many trans narratives, this aspect showcases the nuances of his narrative and what makes it special.

After accepting his transness, he goes straight into top surgery, which is so joyous but also specific to his story. Better yet, he acknowledges the privilege he had to do that.

I admire Page's self-reflection and groundedness, and he renders scenes with tender perception and feeling. 

This memoir is nonlinear, which not infrequently felt jumpy. The ending also felt abrupt and disconnected from the present.

This is a good queer story to read, especially for those who have followed Page throughout his career. If you choose not to read it, though, that's OK too.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content

Moderate: Deadnaming, Emotional abuse, Self harm, Sexual assault, Transphobia, Stalking, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Suicidal thoughts